166 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



was most kindly aided b}' Dr. Edward L. Stevenson, librarian of the 

 Hispanic Society of .Vmerica ; bj'^ Dr. Isaiah Bowanan, of the American 

 Geographical Society, and others. His report, rendered at the end of 

 the year, presents a comprehensive and ingenious scheme whereby, 

 within a moderate compass of about 34 plates, what is essential in the 

 cartographical history of America can be exhibited in photo-litho- 

 graphic facsimile, without attempting, as it would be out of scale to 

 attempt, such elaboration of the theme as has been, in certain 

 portions of the field, carried out by Dr. Stevenson himself, in the Atlas 

 specially devoted to this division of it which he has prepared. Dr. 

 Robertson has also composed, in at least a preUminary draft, a large 

 part of the letter-press which should accompany the maps proposed by 

 him for inclusion in this portion of our Atlas. 



In August and September the Department was able to avail itself, 

 for several weeks of his official vacation, of the services of Mr. Luis Marino 

 P^rez, librarian of the House of Representatives of Cuba, and author 

 of the Institution's ''Guide to the Materials for American History in 

 Cuban Archives." Mr. Perez proceeded to Jamaica, having in hand a 

 partial inventory of the archives of that island which had been prepared 

 by Professor Charles H. Hull, of Cornell, during a visit to the island 

 some years ago, and elaborated this inventory by further researches 

 into a comprehensive report upon the archives of the colony. It is a 

 pleasure to acknowledge the courtesies and facilities which he received 

 from the governor of Jamaica and other authorities of the island, at the 

 instance of His Excellency the British Ambassador in Washington. 



TEXTUAL PUBLICATIONS OF DOCUMENTS. 



The first volmne of Dr. Davenport's collection of "Treaties between 

 European Powers, relating to American History," extending to the 

 treaties of 1648, has also received much benefit from Dr. Robertson's 

 presence in Washington. He has obUgingly read those portions of 

 the text, relating to the earUest periods of American history, which lay 

 within the field of his own special studies and has made valuable sug- 

 gestions. The Director hopes soon to complete his own reading of the 

 manuscript and to submit it for publication. Dr. Davenport, herself, 

 has continued through the year the preparation of her second volume. 



The volumes of "Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress" 

 have been slightly increased by the addition of letters which have come 

 to light during the year. Dr. Burnett has completed the process of 

 annotation to the end of March 1778. 



The preparation of the series of "Proceedings and Debates of Parlia- 

 ment respecting North America from 1585 to 1783" consists naturally 

 of two portions, the work on the proceedings of the English House of 

 Lords, the English House of Commons, the Irish House of Lords, the 

 Irish House of Commons, and the Scottish Parliament, and the work 

 on the debates in these bodies. The selection and copying of materials 



